Pennridge alive in Suburban One race after Tuesday's win

February 05, 2004|By Robert Hoffman Special to the Morning Call -- Freelance

Tuesday night, it finally came together for the Pennridge boys' basketball team. The Rams used pinpoint shooting and aggressive defense to play a nearly flawless game and defeat Bensalem 67-62 in a crucial Suburban One League Game.

"This is the best game we played as a group all year," he said Pennridge coach Dean Behrens.

The performance was somewhat unexpected.

"I was so bummed the last two practices," Behrens said. "I didn't think we were playing well in practice and we would just play well in spurts [during games]. But, I really feel good about tonight."

Behren's team was clicking from the opening tap, as sharpshooter Matt Best put in 11 of his game-high 30 points in the opening period to open up a 21-18 lead.

"I felt like I was on, but we were just playing well as a team," said Best. "I wasn't really thinking about scoring. I was just thinking about winning."

After the teams exchanged leads in the second quarter, Pennridge (14-9, 8-7 SOL) went ahead to stay. Point guard Drew Pento (13 points) began the run with a 3-pointer. Then Best drove from the baseline and put in a feathery layup to give the Rams a 30-27 advantage. A twisting, off-balance 3-pointer by Pento at the buzzer stretched the lead to six points.

In the second half, Bensalem briefly closed to within 49-44 on a basket by Elliott White (21 points). However, Pennridge quickly stopped the Owls' rally. After, a Doug Hayes layup and few more jumpers by Best, the Rams had extended their lead to 59-48.

Pento explained that Pennridge wasn't about to let this game get away.

"Every game before this we would come out flat in the third quarter," he said. "A lot of times we would come out and play lazy or commit turnovers. We were a lot more intense and emotional tonight."

With four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Matt Millar essentially ended any chance of a Bensalem comeback with a 3-pointer that upped the Pennridge advantage to 62-48.

The win gives Pennridge an outside shot at winning the Suburban One Colonial Division title. For the Rams to have any shot at the title, they will have to defeat William Tennent in the season finale on Friday night.